So every year, the state fair comes to Columbia, but for some reason, in all the eight and a half years that I have lived here in the U.S., I have never been to one.  My friends and I decided that a great way to celebrate my 20th birthday would be to visit the State Fair after the game against Vandy.  Boy was that a good idea after that loss...oh, but don't let me get started on that game.  I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves...

I had a great First State Fair.  Till the next one comes again...Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 08:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thanks to Shawn's Art 101 class, he and I have been "culturizing" a lot this semester.  Occassional visits to the museum have filled our Saturdays.  We've seen many different exhibits, from Picassos and Pizzaros to Japanese wood blocks!

Tonight, he and I enjoyed another art extra credit trip into Downtown Columbia to the Vista.  Shawn and I visited an art exhibit that was part of the annual event called Artista Vista.  Described as the largest visual arts event of the Midlands, it is part of the big Columbia Festival of the Arts effort.

There were lots of different exhibits to visit--about 11 major galleries all over the Vista and downtown Main Street.  Shawn and I visited this one called the City Art Gallery.  There were so many art pieces in the 2-floor gallery.  Most of the pieces featured were very vibrant and colorful.  The pieces were mainly contemporary art made in different modes of media--from charcoal, to oil, to paint...They were all just beautiful!

There's really so much art here around Columbia.  There is always the Free Museum Saturdays and the occasional art events to look forward to!  Columbia's a pretty nice place for the arts!

Well...don't know what much else really to say.  Things have been just pretty much getting wrapped up now with the semester ending.  Can y'all believe that the semester is almost over?  I sure can't believe that my first year of college is almost done!!!

Here are some pictures of downtown Columbia from our stroll today...the day still seemed young even though it was already about 7 or so when he and I walked over to the gallery...

Hope y'all enjoyed the pictures of the city!  Catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 08:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm not quite sure what possessed Shawn and I to go on what you might actually could possibly call an"excursion."  Seriously,  read this: 

We started off our nice Saturday with our usual brunch at the Gimp.  Then we strolled through the Horseshoe, which by the way is looking very nice with the spring flowers.  Then off we went on a walk through Main Street of the City of Columbia to see some art exhibits at the Columbia Art Museum.  Shawn had some extra credit to do for his Art 101 class.  The Richland County Library was only a block away so we went there to do a quick research for Shawn's paper.  See at this point, it's already been about a mile and a half that we had walked...but Shawn wanted an adventure.  "An adventure!  I want to be spontaneous," he said.  So off we went for another mile...or two...or three to Riverfront Park.  Mind you, we still had to walk back to Maxcy!

Well, despite the really long walk--it was about six miles all in all--I must say that I did quite enjoy the day.  I mean, I did once say, "Make friends, have adventures, and treasure memories."  Ahhhh, CHEEEEESY!  Hahaha!  Let's just say I won't be going to Strom anytime soon!

Well, enjoy tome of the pictures I took future Gamecocks.  Isn't Spring time beautiful in Carolina?  Well, catch y'all later on the flipside!

Posted by Kriska at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I totally saw one of the coolest things I've probably ever seen in my life today--GLASS BLOWING!

Yes, it really doesn't take much to amuse me, but this was actually super cool and interesting.  About 5 minutes from campus on Huger Street (apparently pronounced "huge-E" as I was corrected today) is this studio/store of glass bowls, vases, and such called One Eared Cow Glass.  Shawn had to go to it for some extra credit for his Art 101 class, and I decided I'd tag along and check it out myself because it sounded pretty cool.  I've seen glass blowing only in a movie (think Neve Campbell with Matthew Perry in "Three to Tango"), so I figured might as well go and see the real thing.

It was really interesting to see the true art and craftsmanship that went into creating even just one piece...it made me want to look at each work in the gallery/store they had and just appreciate each handy piece of art even more.  Each motion seemed very precise but still very free-flowing and personally expressive.

It was kind of funny because Shawn and I were both trying to figure out this one piece that the guy was working on, and I asked him what he was making.  He said that he was making a vase, and that was my guess so I was pretty excited that I got it right...until he turned and looked at Shawn and me and say that he could still pretty much change his mind at any point.  Lo, and behold...he does change his mind and creates a bowl--Shawn's guess!  Boys always stick together, I say.

Anyways, it was quite a nice little afternoon activity...a little variation from the usual hanging around at Maxcy.  There are really lots of things to do around here in Columbia to pretty much cater to most everyone's hobbies and such--theaters, music centers, and art studios for the artsy; Blatt, Strom, and all the games for the athletes; parks and the Horseshoe for the outdoorsy on the nice sunny days; the Vista and Five Points for the night owls; and on and on and on!  There's so much to do that you'd have to just really be bored and lazy to say that...there's nothing to do.

Well, not much else to really share on this day.  A woot woot is probably in order though for a Monday gone great.  Hope y'alls have been as well.  Here's to hoping that the rest of the week will go just as smoothly if not better...only 11 more days until Spring break!!!  Catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

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The history of the shop is pretty crafty.  If y'all are ever in town and are interested, check it out.  Here's their website: www.oneearedcow.com

Posted by Kriska at 08:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)